Underneath a picturesque sky, the President boards Air Force One prior to departure from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

WASHINGTON (MEDIA GENERAL) – Trying to capture what life in the White House can be like is almost impossible to convey to the public, but newly-released photos by President Obama’s chief photographer highlight never-before-seen moments from the Oval Office and beyond.

Life inside the White House

Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes needed some assistance with his wardrobe so the President joined Brian Mosteller, Director of Oval Office Operations, and Personal Aide Ferial Govashiri in helping to spruce him up. April 17, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)“Show us the Jeremy dance,” the President said to departing Social Secretary Jeremy Bernard, during a farewell ceremony for Jeremy in the State Dining Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)After a group photograph with Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Space Shuttle Columbia alumni, the President helped some of the participants move a sofa back in place in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)When Vice President Biden decided not to run for President, he asked to make the announcement in the Rose Garden. The President looked over remarks as the morning sun splashed through the Oval Office. In all honesty, as I was making this photograph, I didn’t know yet the Vice President’s decision. But either way, I thought it was important to symbolically include the President’s chair in my frame. In retrospect, I soon realized that if he had decided to run for President, the Vice President would have made the announcement from somewhere other than at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

The First Family photos

The President and his daughters Sasha and Malia participate in the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey pardon ceremony in the Rose Garden with National Turkey Federation Chairman Jihad Douglas. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)The First Lady demonstrates her boxing skills during a #GimmeFive videotaping. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)The President and First Lady react to a child in a pope costume and mini popemobile as they welcome children during a Halloween event on the South Lawn of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

The guy behind the camera

The job of the White House photographer offers a front-row view to history unlike most other jobs.

Pete Souza, the Chief Official White House Photographer, released a note along with the pictures on New Year’s Eve to help explain his selection process for which photos to release.

Editing photographs, especially for a project like this, is both subjective and personal. I not only found key historic moments from the year, but also chose moments that give people a more personal look at the lives of the President and First Lady. I’ve also included many photographs that rely more on their graphic qualities, including light and composition. And yes, I’ve included a couple of photographs of the President with Ella Rhodes, because she was certainly the best subject of the year.
I hope you enjoy this gallery. I look forward to doing this one last time next year.-Pete Souza, Chief White House Photographer

Click here to read “Behind the Lens: 2015 Year in Photographs” and see more photographs from Souza.